Chain.



nH. BRASSLER.

CHAIN.

APPLIOATION FILED 0014, 191s.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 coLUlBlA PLANOGIMI( 0.,WASHINOTON. D. c.

TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS BRASSLER, 0F SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BRASSLER COMPANY, A -CORPORATION OF' NEW JERSEY.

CHAIN.

Application led October 4, 1913.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HANS BRAssLER, a subject of the Emperor of' Germany, residing at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in chains; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly, to improvements in ornamental chains for use in the construction of bracelets, necklaces, and other various articles of jewelry.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simple means for flexibly connecting the links of ornamental chains, and to provide a neat and ornate chain-construction for use in the manufacture of bracelets, necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the present invention.

I'Vith the various objects of the present invention in view, the invention consists, primarily, in the novel cha-in hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various and flexibly-connected parts comprising the chain, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specication, and then finally embodied in the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which all of the several views are made considerably enlarged so as to more clearly illustrate the principles of the present invention.

In the said drawings,-'Figure1represents a face view of a portion of a chain showing one embodiment of the principles of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the portion of chain represented in said Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

serial No. 793,295.

Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. ais a detail longitudinal vertical section of a pair of the flexibly connected links of the chain, said section being taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rear face view of a pair of connected links of the chain, the back-plates or back-links being omitted from said view. Fig. 6 is a face view of the rear of one of the front or top-links of the chain; Fig. 7 is a side view of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow m in said Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of. said link, looking in the direction of the arrow y in said Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a top-face view of one of the back-links of the chain; and Fig. 10 is a face view of one of the connecting links of the chain. Fig. 11 is a rear face view of a pair of connected links, and a connecting link, of a modified form of construction, with the back-plates or backlinks omitted from said View; and Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal vertical view of' the connected links shown in said Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a face view of the rear of one of the front or top-links shown in said Fig. 11; and Fig. la is a top-face view of one of the back-links shown in said Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a portion of a chain showing another modified construction, but still embodying the principal features of the present invention; and Fig. 16 is a rear face view of a pair of the connected links shown in said Fig. 15, the back-plates or back-links being omitted from said view. Fig. 17 is a rear face view of one of the front or toplinks of the chain shown in said Fig. 15; and Figs. 18 and 19 are views of the respective sides of the same. Fig. 20 is a plan view of one of the connecting links employed in the construction of chain illustrated in said Fig. 15.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, it will be seen, that the chain comprises three sets of link-shaped members or elements, namely, the top or face-links 1, the connecting links 2, and the base-plates or back-links 3, all of which may be of any desired marginal configuration; and the various links may be provided with suitable surface-ornamentations, if desired. In the present illustrations, the various links are made of rectangular configuration, and the various links are frame-like in struc ture. Each top or face link 1 comprises a series of four walls or sides, as 4, 5, 6 and 7, and a face 8, the said face S'being .preferably provided with van opening as 9, and an arrangement of retaining or holding prongs, all arranged to provide a suitable setting for the reception and securing of a precious stone upon said face 3. Upon their lower edges, the several walls or sides of the top or face links are provided with suitable projections or post-like members, as 10, and the sides or walls 4 and 6 are provided upon their lower faces with a series of post-like members or projections 11, of the same depth as the post-like members 10, but said post-like members or projections 11 being also provided with suitably formed lugs, as 12, which project beyond the plane of the end-faces of said post-like members 10 and 11, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Suitably secured upon the face-portions of t-he said projections or post-like members 10 and 11 by means of solder, as at 13, are the previously-mentioned base-plates or back-links 3, the said links 3 being made in the forms of open frame-like members corresponding in their general conformation to the. conformation of the top or face-links 1, and in the present case, each link compris ing four sides 14, 15, 16 and 17.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 9, the sides 14 and 1G are formed with depressions or recesses 1S, corresponding to the loca-tions of and conforming to the configurations of the lugs 12, heretofore mentioned, so that the said lugs 12 and the recesses 18 may be brought into registration for readily causing the proper centering of each back-link. 3 with its respective top or face-link 1. The various links of the chains are slightly loosely connected, so as to produce flexibility of the chain, by means of the previously-mentioned connecting links 2.

Each link 2, in the present case, is made of rectangular configuration, substantially as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the link com-v prising the four sides 19, 20, 21 and 22, and the sides 19 and 21 being connected by a central bar or strip, as 23, so as to provide a link having the two open parts 24 and 25. The connecting links 2, thus provided, are suitably disposed between the upper surface-portions of the back-links 3 and the lower surface-portions of the top or face-links 1, withl the lugs 12 arranged in and extending through the said open parts 24 and 25, and the sides 20 and 22 and central bar or strip 23 slidably disposed in the depressed parts located between the respective post-like members 10 and 11, and

operating in a manner, as will be clearly single post-like projections, as 26, each projection being formed with a centering lug 27.

The base-plates or back-links, in this case, are made in the form of open frames, as indicated in Fig. 14, being provided in their opposite side-members with receiving depressions, as 28, for the reception of the lugs 27, and for centering the links in perfect registration in the manner and for the purposes heretofore described in the construction illustrated in said Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive. rlhe connecting links in this case are also made in the form of open frames, as 29, each link having a single open part, as 30, so as to be adapted to be fitted over two post-like projections 26 of the adjacent tops or front links, and whereby, when the back-plates or back-links are soldered in place, a perfectly flexible chain is the result.

In lieu of the forms of chains constructed in the manner herein-above described, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive, the chain may be made in the manner indicated in Figs. 15 to 20 inclusive. In this construction, the top or face-links are indicated by the reference-character 31, the sides 32 of each link extending beyond the sides 33 thereof, and being centrally slotted, as at 34. Each connecting link in this construction consists of a pair of engaging elements, as 35, and a connecting bar or strip 36 which is slidably arranged in the slots 34 of the sides 33 of the adjacent links, as shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. Back-plates or back-links 37 of the ordinary open framelike construction are arranged over the assembled face-links and connecting links and suitably secured upon the backs ofthe sides 33 of the face-links in the manner hereinabove described.

Vhile in the several figures of the drawings, I have shown the several links greatly exaggerated, in practice the links are made very small, being usually one-eighth of an inch each way across the faces of the top or face-links, and the combined depths of the face-links and the back-links being usually about three-sixteenths of an inch.

From the foregoing description of my present invention it will be seen that I have devised a simply constructed and perfectly liexible chain-construction, the top or facelinks of which can be suitably ornamented with an arrangement of precious stones, and

the chain being admirably adapted in the manufacture of jewelry, and especially for bracelets, necklaces, watch-chains, fobs, and the like.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as Well as in the details of the construction and the ornamental configurations of the several links, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the fore* going specication, and as defined in the clauses of the claim which are appended thereto. I-Ience, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim l. A chain-construction of the character herein specified, comprising a series of rigidly connected face-links and back-links, said face-links having marginal walls and postlike members extending from the adj acent edges of the adjacent walls of the facelinks and said links having intervening spaces between their connecting parts, and connecting links arranged upon ysaid postlike members of the adjacent links and having portions slidably arranged in said intervening spaces to give fiexibility and said connecting links having other portions in retaining engagement with the connected facelinks and back-links.

2. A chain-construction of the character herein specified, comprising a series of rigidly connected face-links and back-links, said face-links being provided with marginal post-like members in their adjacent walls and said links being formed with intervening spaces, and connecting links formed with open portions into which said post-like members project, and the said connecting links having portions slidably arranged in said intervening spaces to give flexibility to the assembled links of the chain.

3. A chain-construction of the character herein specified, comprising a series of rigidly connected face-links and back-links, said face-links being provided with postlike members and intervening spaces, and

registering lugs extending from the ends of some of said post-like members, said backlinks being provided with receiving depressions with which said lugs are adapted to register, and connecting links formed with open portions into which said post-like members project, and the said connecting links having portions slidably arranged in said intervening spaces to give liexibility to the assembled links of the chain.

4. A chainconstruction comprising a series of open-faced frame-like face-links, correspondingly formed frame-like backlinks secured to the backs of said face-links, said face-links being provided with post-like members and registering lugs extending from the ends of some of said postlike members, said back-links being pro-vided with receiving depressions with which said lugs are adapted to register, and means in engagement with said post-like members for flexibly connecting a series of such assembled face-links and back-links to provide a chain.

5. A chain construction comprising a series of open-faced frame-like face-links, correspondingly formed frame-like backlinks secured to the backs of said face-links, said face-links being provided with post-like members and registering lugs extending from the ends of some of said post-like members, said back-links being provided with receiving depressions with which said lugs are adapted to register, and means in engagement with said post-like members for iiexibly connecting a series of such assembled face-links and back-links to provide a chain, consist-ing of frame-like connecting links of rectangular configuration, and each connecting link being provided with a centrally disposed connecting bar, said bar providing with the sides of each connecting link open parts into which the post-like members project for fiexibly connecting a series of such assembled face-links and back-links to provide a chain.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set fort-h above I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of Sept. 1913.

HANS BRASSLER.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

